Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

Also called: Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech), Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Operator, Extrusion Operator, Extrusion Press Operator, Machine Operator, Metal Inspector, Setup Operator, Wire Mill Operator, Wire Mill Rover, Draw Machine Operator, Drawbench Operator, Extruding Press Operator, Extrusion Machine Operator, Injection Machine Operator, Metal Drawer, Plastic Extrusion Operator, Plastics Extruder Operator, Retort Press Operator, Rod Drawer, Rod Pointer, Stretch Machine Operator, Tube Drawer, Wire Drawer, Wire Drawing Machine Operator, Wire Drawing Machine Tender, Wire Drawing Setter

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.
Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
Maintain an inventory of materials.
Clean work areas.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Coordination
Equipment Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Repairing
Judgment and Decision Making
Active Listening

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (61.18% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

40,450–56,840 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-4021.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop die setup, press troubleshooting, tooling, and process-control experience; explore senior setup or team-lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (61.18% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic